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JEWISH BIBLE ASSOCIATION

Jewish Music Proficiency Examinations

• Organization Directory Page
  (titles of all evaluated learning experiences, organization description, and source of official student records)

• Titles of all evaluated learning experiences in the Jewish Music Proficiency Examinations section

• Descriptions and credit recommendations

Titles, descriptions, and credit recommendations for all learning experiences recommended for college credit within the Jewish Music Proficiency Examinations section can be found below. To locate information on additional learning experiences, which have also been recommended for college credit, use the Organization Directory Page link above for a complete list of titles for all learning experiences or use the following links to go directly to other sections:

Bible Proficiency Examinations
Hebrew Proficiency Examinations
Jewish Law Proficiency Examinations
Talmud Proficiency Examinations

Titles of all evaluated learning experiences in the Jewish Music Proficiency Examinations section

Advanced Cantillation of the Bible I
Advanced Cantillation of the Bible II
Sabbath Prayer Chant and Liturgy
Three Festivals Prayer Chant and Liturgy
High Holiday Prayer Chant and Liturgy: Rosh Hashanah
High Holiday Prayer Chant and Liturgy: Yom Kippur

Descriptions and credit recommendations

Advanced Cantillation of the Bible I
Location: Jewish Bible Association, Jerusalem, Israel.
Length: Proficiency examination program administered at the offices of the Jewish Bible Association.
Dates: January 2004 - Present.
Objectives:  To prepare for the examination, the candidate is expected to be able to recognize the text distinguishing it from other liturgical pieces; be able to rapidly adapt to different repertoire; recall the appropriate information (melody) from among many possibilities; focus on the proper melody from among many; assemble the components in one’s mind; and express the melody with classic interpretation, and be able to sing the melodic line within the basic rules of Hebrew grammar, specifically: proper smichut of the words and proper pronunciation.
Instruction:  The proficiency examination process is intended to measure a body of knowledge that the candidate has acquired through other learning experiences. Each examination is administered under secure and proctored conditions.  Content covered includes: The music and grammar of the cantillation system concentrating on the Polish-Lithuanian and German tradition and covering the five books of the Bible. The candidate is expected to read and chant according to the specific musical notation of each book any verse at random and demonstrate awareness of thematic content and its relationship to the melodic nusach.
Credit recommendation: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 4 semester hours in Jewish Music (8/04).

Advanced Cantillation of the Bible II
Location: Jewish Bible Association, Jerusalem, Israel.
Length: Proficiency examination program administered at the offices of the Jewish Bible Association.
Dates: January 2004 - Present.
Objectives:  To prepare for the examination, the candidate is expected to be able to recognize the text distinguishing it from other liturgical pieces; be able to rapidly adapt to different repertoire; recall the appropriate information (melody) from among many possibilities; focus on the proper melody from among many; assemble the components in his mind; and express the melody with classic interpretation and being able to sing the melodic line within the basic rules of Hebrew grammar, specifically: proper smichut of the words and proper pronunciation.
Instruction:  The proficiency examination process is intended to measure a body of knowledge that the candidate has acquired through other learning experiences. Each examination is administered under secure and proctored conditions. Content covered includes: The music and grammar of the cantillation system concentrating on the Polish-Lithuanian and German tradition and covering the ta'amim of the books of Esther, Ruth, Lamentations, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. The candidate is expected to read and chant according to the specific musical notation of each book any verse at random and demonstrate awareness of thematic content and its relationship to the melodic nusach.
Credit recommendation: In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 4 semester hours in Jewish Music (8/04).

Sabbath Prayer Chant and Liturgy
Location: Jewish Bible Association, Jerusalem, Israel.
Length: Proficiency examination program administered at the offices of the Jewish Bible Association.
Dates: January 2004 - Present.
Objectives:  To prepare for the examination, the candidate is expected to be able to recognize the text distinguishing it from other liturgical pieces; be able to rapidly adapt to different repertoire; recall the appropriate information (melody) from among many possibilities; focus on the proper melody from among many hundreds; assemble the components in his mind; and express the melody with classic and own interpretation and being able to sing the melodic line within the basic rules of Hebrew grammar, specifically: proper smichut of the words and proper pronunciation.
Instruction:  The proficiency examination process is intended to measure a body of knowledge that the candidate has acquired through other learning experiences. Each examination is administered under secure and proctored conditions. Content covered includes:  Shabbat prayer chant and its interpretation in the contemporary synagogue in its formal and improvisational aspects; application of nusach components of the music. The candidate is expected to recognize and chant according to classic Nusach melody and mode any verse at random from the following three hour long Sabbath service: Kabbalat Shabbat, Shacharit, and Musaf and demonstrate awareness of thematic content and its relationship to the melodic nusach.
Credit recommendation: In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 6 semester hours in Jewish Music (8/04).

Three Festivals Prayer Chant and Liturgy
Location: Jewish Bible Association, Jerusalem, Israel.
Length: Proficiency examination program administered at the offices of the Jewish Bible Association.
Dates: January 2004 - Present.
Objectives:  To prepare for the examination, the candidate is expected to be able to recognize the text distinguishing it from other liturgical pieces; be able to rapidly adapt to different repertoire; recall the appropriate information (melody) from among many possibilities; focus on the proper melody from among many hundreds; assemble the components in his mind; and express the melody with classic and own interpretation and being able to sing the melodic line within the basic rules of Hebrew grammar, specifically: proper smichut of the words and proper pronunciation.
Instruction:  The proficiency examination process is intended to measure a body of knowledge that the candidate has acquired through other learning experiences. Each examination is administered under secure and proctored conditions. Content covered includes: Prayer chant for the Three Festivals and analysis of all the Festival services with an emphasis on special music for the TAL and GESHEM prayers and improvisation techniques. The candidate is expected to recognize and chant according to classic Nusach melody and mode any verse at random from the following four hour long Three Festival holiday liturgy: Maariv, Shacharit including Hallel, Musaf including the classic Tal and Geshem recitations and demonstrate awareness of thematic content and its relationship to the melodic nusach.
Credit recommendation: In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 6 semester hours in Jewish Music (8/04).

High Holiday Prayer Chant and Liturgy: Rosh Hashanah
Location: Jewish Bible Association, Jerusalem, Israel.
Length: Proficiency examination program administered at the offices of the Jewish Bible Association.
Dates: January 2004 - Present.
Objectives:  To prepare for the examination, the candidate is expected to be able to recognize the text distinguishing it from other liturgical pieces; be able to rapidly adapt to different repertoire; recall the appropriate information (melody) from among many hundreds of possibilities; focus on the proper melody from among many hundreds of possibilities; assemble the components in his mind; and express the melody with classic and own interpretation and being able to sing the melodic line within the basic rules of Hebrew grammar, specifically: proper smichut of the words and proper pronunciation.
Instruction:  The proficiency examination process is intended to measure a body of knowledge that the candidate has acquired through other learning experiences. Each examination is administered under secure and proctored conditions. Content covered includes:  Days of Awe machzor, sections of the piyutim; the Days of Awe services and traditional melodies; analysis of various motifs and of the MiSinai tunes; Rosh Hashanah prayer chant and liturgy. The candidate is expected to recognize and chant according to classic Nusach melody and mode any verse at random from the five hour long Rosh Hashanah liturgy: Maariv, Shacharit, Hineni, Musaf and demonstrate awareness of thematic content and its relationship to the melodic nusach.
Credit recommendation: In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 8 semester hours in Jewish Music (8/04).

High Holiday Prayer Chant and Liturgy: Yom Kippur
Location: Jewish Bible Association, Jerusalem, Israel.
Length: Proficiency examination program administered at the offices of the Jewish Bible Association.
Dates: January 2004 - Present.
Objectives:  To prepare for the examination, the candidate is expected to be able to recognize the text distinguishing it from other liturgical pieces; be able to rapidly adapt to different repertoire; recall the appropriate information (melody) from among many hundreds of possibilities; focus on the proper melody from among many hundreds of possibilities; assemble the components in his mind; and express the melody with classic and own interpretation and being able to sing the melodic line within the basic rules of Hebrew grammar, specifically: proper smichut of the words and proper pronunciation.
Instruction:  The proficiency examination process is intended to measure a body of knowledge that the candidate has acquired through other learning experiences. Each examination is administered under secure and proctored conditions. Content covered includes: Days of Awe machzor, sections of the piyutim; the Days of Awe services and traditional melodies. Analysis of various motifs and of the MiSinai tunes; Yom Kippur prayer chant and liturgy. The candidate is expected to recognize and chant according to classic Nusach melody and mode any verse at random from the eight hour long Yom Kippur liturgy: Maariv, Shacharit, Musaf, Neila and demonstrate awareness of thematic content and its relationship to the melodic nusach.
Credit recommendation: In the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 8 semester hours in Jewish Music (8/04).

Updated 9/08/04

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